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Zara wasn't in the best mood when they got home, but cheered when she seen Philip's car, she was desperate to talk to him in person, and hoped he would understand.

"Philip" Zara called running into the family room where he sat alone with Eddie not far behind

"Hiya mate, good to see you" Eddie said happily, he and Philip had a great relationship, Eddie had helped him a lot growing up, and now they enjoyed a beer together down the pub.

"You too," Phil replied

"Where is everybody?" Zara asked

"Ah, Danielle is upstairs having a lie down, Rachel is getting ready I think, but she has been upstairs for ages. Katie is out on her bike think she is going to meet a friend and Michael has gone to the shops" he said "I think Rachel forgot birthday candles" he whispered.

Eddie could sense Zara wanted to talk to Philip and now would be a good opportunity, hopefully before the party. "Zara, go get changed out of your uniform" Eddie instructed, he wanted to chat to Phil before Zara did.

"But I want to talk to Philip" she complained

"And you can after you get changed, now go" Zara looked from her father to her brother and sighed.

"I'll still be here in 5 minutes" Philip joked. Zara left the room and thudded up stairs, when Eddie knew she was out of earshot he perched himself on the arm of the sofa to speak.

"I think she wants to talk to you about Mel, but I just wanted you to know she hasn't been the nicest to Rachel today, I have a feeling she is going to start something with her"

"Why, I've spoke to her on the phone and told her why we kept it from her and that Rachel is her Mum and the best Mum she could have"

"I know, I just have a horrible feeling in my gut, and maybe seeing you face to face might help"

"Ill talk to her, don't worry" Phil said, Eddie could hear movement on the stairs so changed the subject.

"So tomorrow lads day, we will take Michael with us"

"Where are you going tomorrow?" Zara asked

"Think we might go to the driving range, just the boys" he said, "I'm going for a shower" he added before going upsatirs.

"So how are you?" Philip asked as Zara sat on the couch next to him

"Crap, everyone treats me like a little kid"

"Trust me, that is better than the alternative"

"What does that mean"

"When I was your age, I had to deal with a lot, I was stressed out, and it wasn't nice, you have Rachel and Eddie, they are amazing"

"What was my real Mum like"

"Honestly, Zara she was selfish, always thought about herself, didn't care about what was best for anyone else and always wanted her own way"

"I guess she must have hated me, I mean she left me"

"She didn't hate either of us, I honestly believe she just didn't love us as much as she loved herself, but she must have been scared too"

"Scared of what?"

"Going to jail I guess, she committed a crime, and rather than face up to it, she decided to run"

"Thanks Phil, I just wish I had known before so I knew you were my brother"

"I didn't need to be your brother to love you, and besides, you were both always like my sister. Rachel is like a Mum to me, and Eddie is the only man who has resembled a father to me"

"So you think I should keep calling Rachel Mum"

"Yes, that's what she has been to you for 12 years and she won't stop"

Zara hugged Phil before running upstairs.

Eddie had went up for a shower, but as he walked into his room, he seen his wife sitting on the bed with her head in her hands, he could tell she was crying.

"Darling, what's wrong?" he rushed over sat next to her and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Just today, we are getting older, the kids are growing up, and I have never felt so distant from Zara"

"Oh love, don't worry about Zara, I have spoken to her and punished her so you don't need to, just be her Mum, I have a feeling after she finishes up with Phil that she will want nothing more than a big hug from you"

"Thank you Eddie" she turned to face him and he gently wiped away her tears.

"Now, I'm going for a shower, Zara is with Philip, why don't you go down and see her"

"Thanks, I will in a bit" Rachel said as she tried to wipe her face so it didn't look like she had been crying when she heard a knock at her door.

"Mum, can I come in"

Rachel smiled at hearing Zara's voice from the other side of the door

"come in love" Rachel called to see her daughter standing, with a tear stained face. "I'm sorry about today"

"Oh come on sweetie and give me a hug, I think we both need it and we can leave what happened to day until tomorrow, I'm sure you have heard enough from Dad, hmm" Rachel said as Zara flung herself onto the bed and into Rachel's arms.

"Philip told me, all about Auntie Mel, he told me she was selfish, and loved herself more than us"

"Is that what he said?"

Zara nodded, before leaning into Rachel's arms again, she felt safe and content there

"I think, Mel just didn't know how to be a Mum, you see we didn't have a loving Mum or Dad, and we had to just muddle along. You have never heard me talk about my parents have you"

Zara shook her head, she had never heard about her Mum's life as a child, where as she knew lots about Eddies.

"What were your Mum and Dad like?"

Rachel sighed, she had never wanted her kids to know about her past, but they deserved the truth.

"They both drank, a lot. My Dad, he would hit my Mum, and my Mum would take it out on Mel and I. I moved out as soon as I turned 16"

"I'm sorry Mum, that must have been awful"

"There is a lot more to it than that, but that's for another day, but all you need to know just now is that I love you, Katie and Michael more than anything"

"How come you are a good Mum but Auntie Mel wasn't when you both had the same parents"

"I wasn't always like this, when I first became a teacher, I was much more authoritative and strict and less caring, and then I met a girl, who had a life like I used to, I helped her and then I became softer, and over the years I think I mellowed out a bit."

"You are still strict" Zara said laughing

"Oh you think so, well I am when I need to be, but I promise if you ever need me, or need to talk I promise I will be there to listen"

"I love you Mum"

"I love you too baby" Rachel planted a kiss on the top of her daughters head as Eddie came out of the bathroom dressed in jeans and shirt ready for the barbecue, he took in the scene in front of him and smiled, it looked like they had their girl back.